The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is lending its support and expertise to drug take-back events sponsored by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The events will take place at 1,700 sites around the country on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Citizens may bring unwanted solid prescription and over-the-counter medicines to any of these locations so they can be disposed of safely. Liquids, such as cough syrup, will not be accepted.

Unused drugs that sit on shelves around the home can be dangerous to people as well as ecosystems. Removing unused medications from households can help prevent intentional misuse and unintentional poisonings of children and pets.

Dumping the medication down the drain or flushing it down the toilet can become a source of water contamination. EPA continues to investigate whether such contamination adversely impacts human health or aquatic life.